diff --git a/src/stanza.c b/src/stanza.c
index b381a1d..ced649b 100644
--- a/src/stanza.c
+++ b/src/stanza.c
@@ -182,6 +182,7 @@ int xmpp_stanza_release(xmpp_stanza_t *stanza)
         while (child) {
             tchild = child;
             child = child->next;
+            tchild->next = NULL;
             xmpp_stanza_release(tchild);
         }